Overview

• Talks slated for October 6 under the Home Ministry’s High Powered Committee have been derailed after the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance withdrew from the meeting.
• The groups set preconditions that include a judicial probe into the September 24 police firing in Leh, the release of all detainees including activist Sonam Wangchuk held under the National Security Act, and enforceable safeguards.
• Ladakh’s chief secretary said 30 of 70 detained youths have been released, the rest remain in judicial custody, and asserted that land, jobs and livelihoods of Ladakhis are protected with no mining or resource exploitation underway.
• Central government sources indicated consideration of alternative constitutional safeguards such as Article 371, while Ladakh leaders continue to press for Sixth Schedule status and statehood as part of a four-point agenda.
• Leaders speaking at a JNU forum voiced grief, questioned the legality of the firing that killed four and injured dozens, and described hospitals struggling to cope during the aftermath.